What Are my Options to Stay Safe at Home: Technology For Aging at Home (COORDINATEs)

Laval University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Aging; Memory Problems; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Shared Decision Making

Treatments: Other: e-decision support platform; Device: GPS and travel diary

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04267484

118792

Details and patient eligibility

About

Most older people want to stay at home as long as possible. Effective self-management for people losing autonomy depends on reliable monitoring of their mobility, health and safety and active implication in decision-making. New technologies have the potential to provide information about changing patterns that reflect changing care needs. This information could help older adults, caregivers and health professionals to participate in decision-making about housing options when a change in living environment needs to be considered.

Full description

This is a multi-phase study to be conducted in 3 countries: Canada (Quebec and Alberta), Sweden and Netherlands. The primary objective is to provide e-decision support technology that will facilitate self-management in the context of aging in place and foster informed value congruent decisions about options to age safely at home.

The aim of the project is to develop and validate a e-technology based on already existing components (e.g. GPS devices, diverse e-platforms and decision support interventions) to 1) help older adults with mild cognitive impairment/memory problems to stay safely at home as long as possible and 2) to provide older adults with decision support tools to help them make informed value congruent decisions (e.g. foster a shared decision-making process) regarding aging at home in a safe manner.

The secondary objectives are:

1. Assess autonomy and mobility of older adults with mild cognitive impairment/memory problems living at home.
2. Inform shared decision-making processes about options to safely age in place for all those involved.

The investigators will apply an integrated Knowledge Translation (iKT), comparative, mixed-methods approach to explore, older adults living at home with mild cognitive impairment/memory problems, their use of space in their homes and neighbourhoods.

The project is divide into 4 work package (WP). In more details, during WP1, the investigators will collect spatial data (e.g. using GPS) and self-reported data (e.g. travel diaries, walking interviews, in-depth interviews, surveys). At WP2, the investigators will use iterative end-user feedback and end-user consultation discussion group to tailor a decision support technology to knowledge-users. At WP3, investigators will assess user opinion regarding factors that could influence their use of the newly adapted e-decision support technology. Finally, at WP4 the investigators will triangulate data and take into account differences between jurisdictions.

This collaboration and our cross-country comparisons will contribute to scaling up e-decision support solutions in the future for the older adults with mild cognitive impairment/memory problems who want to age safely at home.

Enrollment: 294 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged ≥ 65 years
• Living at home
• Diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or experiencing memory issues
• Able to read, understand and write
• Can provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Older adults who are not able to provide informed consent
• Living in nursing home or hospital

Trial design

294 participants in 1 patient group

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment

Description:

WP1, older adults with cognitive impairment will use a GPS tracker for 2 weeks, during which they are asked 1) to keep a daily diary about their activity (travel diary), 2) take the researcher on a walk that they often do (walking interview), and 3) participate in an in-depth interview after 2 weeks, in which their experience with the GPS ans the travel diary data are discussed. WP2, older adults with mild cognitive impairment, caregivers, health professionals and technology developers will collaborate during group discussion meeting to co-design the e-decision support platform to be adapted. WP3, older adults with mild cognitive impairment, caregivers and health professionals will then be asked to use the adapted e-decision support platform and fill a survey.

Treatment:

Device: GPS and travel diary

Other: e-decision support platform